The Nationals try to improve to 30 games over .500 tonight against the Mets.

Considering Bryce Harper just had his best offensive performance in weeks, going 2-for-3 with a homer and a walk, you might have been surprised when Davey Johnson revealed after last night's game the rookie wouldn't be in tonight's lineup. Johnson, though, had been planning that day off all along for Harper, and he's planning to give him even more of them over the remainder of the season.

"He had a great game," Johnson said. "Just relax. Catch your breath. Let me let some of the other guys get into it."

So Tyler Moore will get the start tonight in left field, with Jayson Werth shifting to center field and Michael Morse shifting to right field. Look for more lineup finagling in the coming days as Johnson tries to find opportunities to keep Moore, Steve Lombardozzi and Roger Bernadina fresh.

As for tonight's game, Edwin Jackson is on the mound, looking to bounce back from a bit of a ragged start last week in Arizona (though he did still earn the win that night). Left-hander Jon Niese pitches for the Mets.

The Land Shark is considered the cleverest of all sharks. Unlike the Great White shark, which tends to inhabit the waters and harbors of recreational beach areas, the Land Shark inhabits baseball parks and will strike at any time during the course of game. It is capable of disguising its voice, and generally preys on National League teams in the East.lol

Davey is doing a terrific job with this team. Imagine having Harp, Bernie, Tracy and Lombo on the bench if the Mets bring in a RH reliever in a key situation to pitch to Moore, or Desi, or some other RH hitter, and Davey can counter with any one of those guys, if needed.EJax is starting to remind me a little of Henry. There is a good EJax and a bad EJax. We need the good one to show up tonight. Niese is pretty good.

And Espinosa is in the slot Davey thinks he would fit best in. Werth could be the perfect #1 hitter. Someone who knows how to get on anyway he can yet still packs enough power to garner respect from pitchers. If accepts the role and it seems like he just might this time …

Any of you who are parents – do you often find the care and feeding of Bryce Harper humorous? He got two hits last night, including a home run. After the game Davey called attention to his missing the cutoff man. Is Bryce in time out? I have been reading some tweets about how Bryce reacts, things he needs to learn to accept. Like the fact that some of the other little boys need a turn to play. Seems like parenting 101 to me. Some days he seems more like 19 than others.

mick @ 4:06 — love it!Actually one of the few OK Clint moments was last night in one of the pre-game competitions when the contestants we're asked to identify pictures of various kinds of sharks. One of the choices was actually "land shark" — and when one of them chose it, Clint said "well, you'll make someone from SNL very happy!" Almost made him likable at the time…

I don't have a TV so it's nice when I do get a chance to watch the game on TV, but I couldn't really take Ray Knight for very long. Had to mute and put Charlie and Dave on. When is FP supposed to be back?

NatsNut I think FP is gone just for the weekend. It's his daughter's birthday. He has been watching and tweeting humorous things. I appreciated Ray Knight's career and I love his wife, but this is not his forte. Would rather have had Byron Kerr or Phil Wood.

Sunshine_Bobby_Carpenter_Is_Too_Pessimistic_For_Me said…You folks can't say I didn't warn you about the impending Ben Sheets breakdown.You didn't warn us about the impending Ben Sheets breakdown.I has a keyboard. I can says anythings I wants.

Two things. As for when FP will be back, I heard Bob Carpenter say, assuming I heard correctly, that he was gone "for the home stand", staying West. I guess that means he misses the Braves series, though hard to believe.The other thing has to do with how the Nats attendance is reported. I was there last night, walked around the stadium, and you could count the empty seats in the hundreds, that's all. Yet attendance was announced at under 35k. All I can figure is that season ticket holders get points that entitle them to a bunch of free extra tickets (like around 25 a season per seat), and maybe there were a bunch of freebies in the seats last night. Otherwise, I don't get it, the place was very close to full.

Sunshine – my thoughts exactly. You knew they had a problem early in the season when they picked up Livo as quickly as they did. (And I love me some Livo, but that was a desperate pickup even to me. )Barves lacked quality pitching depth all year.

I'm ignoring a two-hit, 2-0 deficit for the moment.On attendance, though no one else has responded and maybe cares, I note that tonight's game is a sellout, and I assume one reason is no season ticket points tickets were allowed for this game.